program

[proh-gram, -gruh m]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR program ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a plan of action to accomplish a specified end: a school lunch program.

a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.

a broadcasted television or radio production or similar Internet-based content produced for distribution.

a list of items, pieces, performers, etc., in a musical, theatrical, or other entertainment.

an entertainment with reference to its pieces or numbers: a program of American and French music.

a planned, coordinated group of activities, procedures, etc., often for a specific purpose, or a facility offering such a series of activities: a drug rehabilitation program; a graduate program in linguistics.

a prospectus or syllabus: a program of courses being offered.

Also called computer program. Digital Technology. a precise sequence of instructions enabling a computer to perform a task; a piece of software.

verb (used with object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

to schedule as part of a program.

Digital Technology. to write code for (a computer program or application).

to insert or encode specific operating instructions into (a machine or apparatus): We'll program the bells to ring at ten-minute intervals.

to insert (instructions) into a machine or apparatus: An automatic release has been programmed into the lock as a safety feature.

to cause to absorb or incorporate automatic responses, attitudes, or the like; condition: Our parents programmed us to respect our elders.

to set, regulate, or modify so as to produce a specific response or reaction: Program your eating habits to eliminate sweets.

verb (used without object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

to plan or write a program.

Digital Technology. to write computer code.

Also especially British, pro·gramme.

Origin of program

1625–35; < Late Latin programma < Greek prógramma “public notice in writing.” See pro-², -gram¹

Related formsre·pro·gram, verb (used with object), re·pro·grammed or re·pro·gramed, re·pro·gram·ming or re·pro·gram·ing.un·pro·grammed, adjective

Can be confusedpogrom program

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for programs

curriculum, bill, plan, business, schedule, project, policy, procedure, course, production, show, register, compute, prioritize, calendar, syllabus, details, timetable, index, slate

Examples from the Web for programs

Contemporary Examples of programs

And that means they also fall under the umbrella of programs most likely to get the axe when state and federal budgets are tight.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis
Keli Goff
January 5, 2015
Direct funds away from practices, policies, and programs that consistently fail to achieve measurable outcomes.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?
Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle
December 23, 2014
Build evidence about the practices, policies, and programs that will achieve the most effective and efficient results.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?
Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle
December 23, 2014
To whet your appetite, you can relive that glorious moment (and watch other programs from the 2014 summit) here.
Save the Date: Women in the World 2015
December 23, 2014
Now that the Confucian-inspired mourning period is over, the son is free to embark on his own programs and policies.
Kim Jong Un’s Kid Gloves Are Now Off
Gordon G. Chang
December 17, 2014

Historical Examples of programs

Second, we will continue our programs for world economic recovery.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
In turn, they can be encoded in programs designed to negotiate with other programs.
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin
Programs are conceived to enable the understanding of language.
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin
All these broadcasting stations have certain hours for their programs.
Walter and the Wireless
Sara Ware Bassett
As programs shifted, Scotty reached up and turned off the set.
The Electronic Mind Reader
John Blaine

British Dictionary definitions for programs

program

sometimes programme

noun

a sequence of coded instructions fed into a computer, enabling it to perform specified logical and arithmetical operations on data

verb -grams, -gramming, -grammed, -grammes, -gramming or -grammed

(tr) to feed a program into (a computer)

(tr) to arrange (data) into a suitable form so that it can be processed by a computer

(intr) to write a program

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for programs

program

1630s, "public notice," from Late Latin programma "proclamation, edict," from Greek programma "a written public notice," from stem of prographein "to write publicly," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + graphein "to write" (see -graphy).

General sense of "a definite plan or scheme" is recorded from 1837. Meaning "list of pieces at a concert, playbill" first recorded 1805 and retains the original sense. That of "objects or events suggested by music" is from 1854. Sense of "broadcasting presentation" is from 1923. Computer sense (noun and verb) is from 1945. Spelling programme, established in Britain, is from French in modern use and began to be used early 19c., originally especially in the "playbill" sense. Program music attested from 1877.

program

1889, "write program notes;" 1896, "arrange according to program," from program (n.). Of computers from 1945. From 1963 in the figurative sense of "to train to behave in a predetermined way." Related: Programmed; programming.

programs in Science

program

[prō′grăm′]

A organized system of instructions and data interpreted by a computer. Programming instructions are often referred to as code. See more at source code. See also programming language.

programs in Culture

program

A series of instructions given to a computer to direct it to carry out certain operations. The term code is often used to denote large-scale operations.